Library’s planned disposal of holy books troubles faith groups

The National Library is disposing of more than 500,000 publications from its overseas published collection. It will continue to hold some religious texts. The move is expected to save about $1 million in storage costs annually.

Reverend Dr Stuart Lange, church historian and national director of the New Zealand Christian Network, said Christian people greatly valued the Bible, due to its “divine authorship and message”.

Dr Lange said Christians do not like copies of the Bible to be treated with disrespect, but don’t in principle object to appropriately disposing of individual Bibles if they are worn-out or falling apart.

Islamic and Jewish community representatives have expressed concern at the disposal of their holy texts and at the level of consultation undertaken. They want the holy books to be retained or transferred to religious communities.

Massey University Professor Emeritus of Religion Peter Lineham told NewsTalkZB that religious texts should be offered to the relevant communities. New Zealand might be a secular nation, he said, but being secular doesn’t mean being careless with other people’s beliefs. 

Professor Lineham said religions have strict beliefs about how texts should be handled and destroyed – if at all.

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden said the move will be “beneficial” to the taxpayer. She added that the notable religious texts were readily available.

Ms Van Velden said she understood the thousands of physical books being disposed of would be shredded and recycled. She noted that the Department of Internal Affairs has spent some seven years on this project, and attempts have been made to rehome books domestically and internationally.

National Library digital director Mark Crookston said he was comfortable that there had been a good process. Books had been offered to libraries in New Zealand and overseas, which had “rehomed” about 48,000 items.

“It also followed many years of discussion with various interest groups,” he added.

He reiterated the library’s key responsibility was to focus on New Zealand authors and items published in New Zealand, adding it was not its purpose to maintain comprehensive collections of all notable authors from overseas.

“The National Library of New Zealand continues to hold an internationally significant collection of religious texts, including Quran and Bibles,” Mr Crookston said.

FULL STORY

Quran, Bible, Torah among books set to be destroyed by National Library (By Azaria Howell/New Zealand Herald)

National Library’s plan to shred religious texts cops criticism (NewsTalkZB)